Full vaccination, negative COVID-19 tests required for SONA attendees

Lawmakers and their staff who will attend President Rodrigo Duterte's last State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 26 should be fully vaccinated and should yield negative results for COVID-19 RT-PCR and antigen tests.

According to an advisory from the Office of Senate secretary Atty. Myra Villarica, all senators and staff members who will physically attend the event should present their original vaccination cards indicating that they already got two doses of COVID-19 vaccines and the last must be done two weeks prior to the president’s SONA.

On top of that, they are required to undergo RT-PCR swab test two days before the SONA day.

After yielding a negative result in RT-PCR test, the lawmakers are required to undergo another antigen COVID-19 test on Monday which will be conducted by the Presidential Security Group inside the Batasang Pambansa Complex.

“The Presidential Security Group has required that only those who have tested negative to both RT-PCR and Antigen tests will be allowed to enter the Plenary building,” the advisory stated.

Moreover, the PSG will be providing a “prescribed” face masks and face shields, which has QR codes, for those who will enter the plenary hall.

“All are required to wear the prescribed face mask and face shield while inside the Plenary building. Face masks and face shields previously worn before coming to the [House of Representatives] will be discarded,” the advisory read.

Duterte will be delivering his sixth and last SONA on Monday, July 26.—Hana Bordey/LDF, GMA News